Pest-Proof Your Home for the Holidays

What would you do if you found a mouse in your holiday decorations? You’d probably be pretty surprised, right? Year after year, pests continue to surprise homeowners in their Christmas trees and storage boxes.

Don’t let rodents and insects surprise you this season with these 12 tips from the National Pest Management Association:

1. Give fresh cut Christmas trees a good shake before setting them inside. Spiders, ticks, ants, and their eggs often hide in the branches.
2. Opt for plastic bins with tightly sealed lids to store décor at the end of the season. Avoid cardboard boxes that pests can easily chew through or use them for nesting.
3. Inspect boxes of ornaments and other decorations for signs of an infestation like gnaw marks or rodent droppings.
4. Stow firewood on a raised structure at least 20 feet from the home and inspect wood before bringing it indoors.
5. Examine string lights to ensure wiring is fully intact, as rodents are known to gnaw through them.
6. Regularly dispose of trash in sealed receptacles.
7. Store all food products in plastic or glass containers with secure lids to keep out beetles, moths, and other pests.
8. Immediately wipe up any spills from countertops, tables, floors, and shelves to avoid attracting pests.
9. Check expiration dates on all ingredients before use and toss any expired items, the longer an item sits on your shelf, the more likely it will become infested.
10. Carefully inspect all other live greenery, such as wreaths and garland, for pests before bringing them indoors.
11. Inspect grocery items for signs of damage before bringing them into the kitchen because damaged packaging leads to easy pest access.
12. Frequently inspect the inside of cabinets and pantries to ensure they are clean and free of crumbs that could attract mice or other pests. Vacuum as needed.

TEXAS PEST PROTECTION

Protect your home from pests year-round with a Total Home Protection plan from Holder’s Pest Solutions. Our trained professionals will take care of what’s “bugging” you and help prevent them from returning. Please call us at (281) 561-9999 or contact us online to schedule your first pest control service.

Infographic courtesy of the National Pest Management Association.